Swimming device.



Al E. DUE.

SWIMMING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED APR.20, 1915.

Patent-ed Dec. 14, 1915 ALFRED E. DUE, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK? SWIMMING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dee... Ml, rain.

Application filed April 20, 1915. Serial No. 22,677.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALFRED E. DUE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bro0klyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented new and useful Tm provement's in Swimming Devices, of which the following is a specification.

The general object of this invention is to provide a device to buoy a person up in the water so as to be-of use as an aid in learning the art of swimming. And to this end the invention consists of a belt adapted to be secured around the body of a wearer and in securing to the belt, by means of flexible connections, a plurality of cork floats which are detachably connected to the flexible elements and are adapted to be positioned behind the shoulders of the wearer.

Other objects will appear and be better understood fromthat embodiment of my invention of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming part thereof in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved device. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of one of the floats showing the n1anner of securing the same to the end of the flexible connection and, Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the manner in which the float is detached from the flexible connection.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, 1 is a belt, which is preferably formed of canvas, and is provided with the straps 2 adapted to engage the buckles 3, whereby the belt may be adjusted to the body of a user, preferably below the armpits. Secured to the belt at the upper edge of each side thereof is a pair of flexible connections 4, which are preferably formed of a strong piece of cord or other suitable material. These con nections have one of their ends securely fastened to the belt in any suitable manner such as by being knotted or tied thereto and have detachably connected to their'other ends a pair of floats 5. The floats are preferably formed of a spherical pieceof cork and are each provided with an opening 6 which passes through the central portion thereof. Through the opening 6 of the float the cord 4 is passed and to suitably secure the float to the cord, I have provided the end of the cord with a small button 7 which after first be ing passed through the opening is then turned transversely thereto at one end thereof. To prevent the button from projecting beyond the outer surface of the cork it .will be noted that I have provided the cork with a depression or countersink 8 into which the button is nested. Thus the button maybe prevented from contacting with and scratchng the flesh of a person using the device.

By the employment of a stop 9 which is fastened on the cord and engages the cork at a portion opposite to that which the button is secured a means is provided for securing the cork on the end of the cord and for pre venting the cork from riding on the cord when the device is in use. The stop is frictionally mounted on the cord so that when it is desired to remove the float for any purpose, such as to replace the same by one having an increased buoyancy or to utilize the float for amusement on the beach, such as to play ball with, it is necessary only to slidably adjust the stop along the cord to permit the button to be turned so that it may be withdrawn through the opening in the-float as indicated in Fig. 3.

With the use of a device constructed in aecordance with this invention it is obvious that the floats may be positioned behind the arms of a user so that they in no wise interfere'with the freedom of movement of the arms and that a person using the device will be supported in the water in a proper position for swimming.

What is claimed. as new is 1. A device of the class described comprising a belt provided with suitable straps for securing the same to the body of a wearer, flexible elements connected at one end to the belt, floats having openings passing therethrough, through which the flexible elements are passed and means mounted on the flexible elements to engage the floats at opposite portions thereof and constructed so as to permit the detachment of the floats from the flexible elenicnts substantially as described.

2.} In a swimming device the combination of a belt having one endof flexible elements connected thereto, floats having openings through which the flexible elements are passed, buttons mounted on the ends of the flexible elements and turnalole transversely of the openings at one end thereof and adjusted stops fi'ietionally mounted on the flexible elements to engage the floats at the other end of the openings so as to permit the detachmentof the floats from the flexible elements substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I a'llix my signature in presence of two witnesses. I

a ALFRED E. DUE.

Witnesses JOHN A. DONEGAN, GEO. A. BYRXE. 

